Land preserved in Ventura County

A decade after Ventura County voters decided to preserve agricultural greenbelts, residents have rejected large-scale housing developments in Ventura, Santa Paula and Moorpark while approving only a handful of small projects.

Under the Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources laws, city councils can still approve development that falls within the city’s urban boundary, but any project outside urban borders must go to voters for approval.

The laws have preserved thousands of acres of farmland and open space.

Ventura County, with a population of 800,000, is alone in adopting restrictions for virtually every city as well as its unincorporated land.

Many big builders have abandoned the county, said Donald Brackenbush, a Pasadena developer.

“I don’t think a national builder is going to take that local political gamble again,” Brackenbush said, referring to the time and expense of holding a public vote.

“It’s just easier to go someplace else.”